Hundreds of entries received for MSP’s Christmas card competition

Kate Forbes MSP faces a difficult decision after receiving more than 300 entries from 30 different primary schools across the Highlands for her annual constituency Christmas card competition

This year’s winning design will not only feature on the card, but will also be showcased on a Nevis Range mountain gondola at Aonach Mor near Ben Nevis.

Entries have come in from right across the constituency, including from Broadford, Carbost, Drumnadrochit, Farr, Fort William, Kingussie, Mallaig, Raasay and Spean Bridge.

Kate Forbes MSP said: “This is the third year in a row that I’ve asked young people in primary schools across the Highlands to design a festive Christmas card for my constituency, and I’ve been blown away by the number and the quality of the entries.

“I’m going to have a very difficult job picking a winner, and it has been exceptionally hard even drawing up a shortlist.

“All of the entries will be displayed in the windows of my constituency office in Dingwall, which is often a festive spectacle for passers-by on the High Street.”

The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch continued: “Perhaps this year’s winning prize has encouraged a few more entries, and I love the idea that the skiers, snowboarders and tourists coming to Lochaber will head up the mountain in a gondola and see a festive design by a primary school pupil.

“At the end of the day, this is about encouraging kids to get involved with something a little bit different, and I look forward to announcing a winner next month.”

Chris O’Brien, CEO of the Nevis Range, said: “The entries for this year’s Christmas card competition have been fantastic and we are delighted that Nevis Range were able to be a part of it.

“The winning design will be on one of our gondolas all Winter and we can’t wait to see it!”

Every primary school in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency was sent a letter from Kate Forbes MSP inviting them to participate in the competition, with the short brief of an A5 drawing on the theme of a Highland winter – featuring aspects of the region’s landscape, culture and sports.